Prevalence of Loneliness and Associated Factors among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Sri Susanty, Min-Huey Chung, Hsiao-Yean Chiu, Mei-Ju Chi, Sophia H. Hu, Chien-Lin Kuo and Yeu-Hui Chuang
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Sri Susanty: School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Xing St., Taipei 110, Taiwan
Min-Huey Chung: School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Xing St., Taipei 110, Taiwan
Hsiao-Yean Chiu: School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Xing St., Taipei 110, Taiwan
Mei-Ju Chi: School of Gerontology Health Management, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Xing St., Xinyi District, Taipei 110, Taiwan
Sophia H. Hu: Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 155 Sec. 2, Linong St., Peitou District, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Chien-Lin Kuo: Department of Allied Health Education & Digital Learning, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, 365 Ming-Te Road, Peitou District, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Yeu-Hui Chuang: School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Xing St., Taipei 110, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 8, 1-11

Abstract: Loneliness has become one of the most common psychological problems experienced by older adults. Previous studies have indicated that loneliness is correlated with poor physical and psychological health outcomes; therefore, it is important to pay attention to people experiencing loneliness. However, there is a lack of information regarding the prevalence of loneliness, and its associated factors, among community-dwelling older adults in Indonesia, which this study aimed to understand. This study used a cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational research design. Stratified random sampling was applied to 1360 participants, aged ≥ 60 years, in 15 community health centers in Kendari City, Indonesia. The following questionnaires were used to collect data, including demographic and characteristic information, Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form, and a single-item loneliness question. The prevalence of loneliness among older adults was 64.0%. The multivariate logistic regression showed that older adults who were female, lived with family, had fewer children, had a poor health status, had a poor oral status, had more chronic diseases, had no hearing problems, had poor cognitive function, and had depression had a higher chance of feeling lonely. Loneliness is a serious health issue among the older population in Indonesia. The government, social workers, and healthcare professionals should pay immediate attention to this psychological problem. The study also suggests that appropriate strategies for the prevention of loneliness should be developed in the near future.

Keywords: community; Indonesia; loneliness; older adults; prevalence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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